Cob Therapy aims to help people connect to nature through the art of natural building

What is "cob"?

"Cob" is a Welsh word that translates to "lump of mud". It is made up of well-mixed clay (or clay sub-soil), sand, straw and water. Traditionally, cob was used to build thick-walled earthen structures; the straw in each lump of mud "woven" into the mud lump beneath it. A cob wall is one solid, monolithic mass containing no joints. Cob differs from Adobe, a building style common in South Western US that uses cured clay bricks. Building with bricks creates a wall full of joints, and comparatively, less stability.

Cob Therapy uses cob for a variety of purposes--homes and buildings, ovens and benches, garden walls and saunas, floors and plasters...the list goes on. With proper protection from the elements, as well as occasional maintenance, cob structures have stood the test of time across the globe.

And in case you were still wondering: No. The type of cob we are talking about has no relation whatsoever to corn.

Natural materials like earth, stone and wood are not only non-toxic, they are Life Enhancing. They promote comfort and psychological well being in our living spaces; they help to lessen our environmental impact, improve the durability of our homes, and empower homeowners and builders to be self-reliant.

Earth

Earth has been used as a building material on every continent, in nearly every part of human history because of its versatility, availability and functionality. There is a very therapeutic aspect to touching earth with our bare skin. As many of us are so far removed from this element in our modern lives; in a workshop setting or any build project, we repeatedly witness the "therapy" that cob offers builders-earth is energizing, detoxifying, strengthening, and an excellent community builder.

Cob works

Stone

Stone is one of our favorite building materials available in the "supernatural market". These are million-year-aged nature-made bricks! Incredibly strong, and if pieced together properly, stone can be the most solid and attractive foundation there is. Stone is a natural way to build a foundation stem wall-- creating the transition between the ground and the cob wall. As SunRay Kelley says, "With a good hat and good boots, cob will last forever."

Wood

We strive to use wind fallen wood or trees that we consciously cut to improve the health of a forest. Rough cut, wild edged, non-industrialized wood is beautiful and has a smaller carbon footprint. Our vision is rooted in sensibility as well, using recycled or discarded lumber when appropriate. In the above photo, pictured are natural curved branches, which are infinitely stronger than straight dimensional lumber found at the store and add a whimsical element to a building

I imagine humans having "shelter building" coded in our DNA.

Without shelter we don't survive. This primitive skill has been outsourced in the modern world, disconnecting all of us from the living spaces we inhabit. Cob Therapy aims to reintroduce people to this ancient craft, inspiring creativity and enthusiasm, all while taking direct action against a conventional building world that uses toxic materials in an extremely unsustainable way. Cob is a regenerativebuilding material that supports a healthy indoor environment, reducing stress, and naturally cleansing the air we breathe.